The Boy Who Drew Cats
by Anushka Ravishankar and illustrated by Christine Kastl
“The Boy Who Drew Cats” by Anushka Ravishankar and illustrated by Christine Kastl. Published by Karadi Tales. A Japanese folk tale retold about a boy who drew only cats no matter what he was asked to do.
Akiro was different from others. He drew cats. There was no problem with that except for the fact that he drew only cats. He wasn’t interested in drawing anything else or doing any other work for that matter. When everyone else would eat their meal, he would draw cats with the rice and try to make them eat fish. When the cats didn’t eat the fish, he would cry and refuse to have his supper. His parents were fed up with his unusual ways. They were at a loss as to what to do with him.
Akiro would tell his mother that he would keep at drawing cats till he drew the perfect cat. No one including Akiro could figure out what that perfect cat would be. At last, his parents decided to send him to a temple nearby to study under the priest there. Akiro’s ways did not change even there. The priest kept looking at his drawings everywhere and told him that he didn’t have the temperament to become a priest. Akiro realised that he was being asked to leave. The priest gave him a puzzling bit of advice. “Stay away from large places. Sleep only in small spaces.”
What happened next? Where did Akiro go? Where did his destiny lead him? Did he follow the priest’s advice? Did it help him in any way? Did he continue drawing cats? Did he ever get that perfect cat? Did he meet his family again? Would he be considered odd for the rest of his life? How did he come to be in a folk tale? Read the book to find out!
My seven year old loved the book. It was his first book on Japan and he was excited to know more about it. The illustrations made on rice paper lend an authentic regional flavour to the story. The book is apt for children aged 6/7+.
Where to buy from?
The publishers Karadi Tales here.
An independent indie bookstore, Funky Rainbow, from where I buy many of my books.